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Bahrain Air Show to Display BAE Systems’
Latest Technologies

DUBAI - BAE Systems, a global defence, security and aerospace company, will display its innovative technology — MANTIS and HERTI, its unmanned air systems, and a full size replica of the Eurofighter Typhoon, at the inaugural Bahrain International Air Show today, a company official said.

Three-day inaugural Bahrain International Air Show, or BIAS, will take place at Sakhir Airbase. Civil Aviation Affairs for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Farnborough International Limited are organising the firstever airshow at the airbase adjacent to the Bahrain Grand Prix circuit in the centre of the main island. It has a 12,000-foot runway and large ramp areas.

“As one of the first companies to sign up, BAE Systems.... will make it different to other air shows,” said Simon Keith, Managing Director — Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific for BAE Systems.

Eurofighter Typhoon, the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft, will be a star attraction during the three-day event.

Europe’s latest multi-swing combat aircraft developed BAE Systems is capable of deployment in a wide range of roles, including air policing, air defence as well as ground attack.

Typhoon, Europe’s newest high-performance multi-role fighter, is in service with the four partner nations of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK as well as export customers, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Through the Royal Bahraini Air Force and the Bahrain Defence Force, BAE Systems’ Hawk and Avro RJ100 in VIP configuration will also be represented at the show.

MANTIS and HERTI are next-generation autonomous air systems, with emphasis placed on the levels of autonomy designed into the system and the concept of operations developed for effective deployment and operation.

“Bahrain is an important market for us and we have a strong relationship with both Royal Bahraini Air Force with the Hawk Trainer and the Bahrain Defence Force and their Avro RJ aircraft. We are looking forward to forging stronger bonds with Bahrain and to fully supporting them in protecting the nation and its people,” Simon Keith said.

BAE Systems is well known for its fighter aircraft and is now leading the way in the UK’s unmanned autonomous air capability.

MANTIS, the UK’S largest fully autonomous unmanned aircraft, completed its maiden flight in Woomera, South Australia in Autumn 2009 and, during subsequent flights it successfully completed a series of trials demonstrating the capability of the system and the potential of large unmanned systems to support future UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) operational needs.

Moreover, with its ability to take off, complete a full mission and land – all at the click of a computer mouse – HERTI has been designed to meet a wide variety of operational needs, both cost effectively and with extremely high levels of reliability while removing the need for an operator or pilot to control the aircraft from the ground. When coupled with BAE Systems’ Imagery Collection & Exploitation (ICE) system, the aircraft offers real potential in the fields of maritime,

coastline, border and military surveillance as well as showing broader potential for areas such as pipeline, plant and infrastructure surveillance, and insurgent detection. 


riaz@khaleejtimes.com